Up and Under is a weekly exclusive on Americas Rugby News. It covers the best and worst from games involving the Americas players and teams over the previous week.   UP Women’s Eagles’s Claim Bronze The USA’s quest for Olympic Qualification got off to a strong start as the Women’s …

UBC claimed their 4th Canadian University Men’s Championship in the five years of the competition with a dominant 48-5 win over McGill on Sunday. The Redbirds simply had no answer for the size and speed of the home town Thunderbirds, who featured a number of Canada age-grade internationals. Relmu Wilson-Valdes …

Rugby New York have re-signed versatile three-quarter Ishmail Shabazz for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Originally from Portland, Oregon, the 25-year-old spent recent months playing for NYAC in the American Rugby Premiership. Shabazz returned stateside from a two-year stint in New Zealand to join New York ahead of the …

Mason Pedersen has put pen to paper with the Seattle Seawolves. The 26-year-old prop was selected by the 2022 Major League Rugby finalists in the first round of the Dispersal Draft and has now committed to the 2023 campaign after spending the past five years in Texas. After starting his …

The Dallas Jackals have signed one of Argentina’s top prospects in flanker Jerónimo Gómez Vara. He makes the move to Major League Rugby after playing a prominent role with the Jaguares XV in the 2022 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) season. Gómez Vara, who turns 22 in January, notably …

South Africa moved to the top of the Men’s World Sevens standings with a convincing Cup Final win over Ireland in Dubai. The USA improved on their results in Hong Kong to finish in 4th, while Argentina weren’t far behind in 6th spot. After two events on the 11-stop circuit, …

The USA’s quest for Olympic Qualification got off to a strong start as the Women’s Eagles claimed Bronze in the opening round of the World Sevens Series in Dubai. Australia were crowned champions after defeating New Zealand, with the two rivals a clear step ahead of the rest of the …

NOLA Gold have added another dynamic attacker to their backline arsenal. Former New Zealand u20 fullback Jordan Trainor has signed a two-year deal through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. The 26-year-old’s rights were acquired in the first round of last month’s Dispersal Draft. Trainor joined the LA Giltinis on …

The San Diego Legion have re-signed flanker Dan Pryor for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. A former New Zealand Māori representative, the 34-year-old returns for a third year in SoCal after making the move from Japan late in the 2021 campaign. Pryor stayed busy in 2022, taking the starting …

Argentina and the USA have qualified for the Men’s Cup Quarter Finals after a highly competitive opening day at the Dubai Sevens. The Eagles were one of only two sides to advance unbeaten, while Los Pumas topped Pool B based on points differential after a three-way tie. Canada were competitive …

The USA will represent the Americas in the Cup Quarter Finals in Dubai, as the women opened their accounts on the new World Sevens Series campaign. Canada and Brazil are set to finish in the bottom third of the bracket after missing out on the top eight. It was the …

Rugby New York have confirmed two more returning members of their backline for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. Midfielder Jason Emery and versatile back John Powers have each committed to a second campaign with the defending champions. Emery, 29, was a high profile addition ahead of the 2022 season. …

The Dallas Jackals have revealed the next Argentine addition to their roster for the 2023 season. Former Pumas scrumhalf Pedro Imhoff has signed on. His family name is a familiar one to rugby fans, with older brother Pedro Imhoff a long-time star with both Argentina and French giants Racing 92. …

NOLA Gold have wasted no time securing their top draft pick for the foreseeable future. Sebastiano Villani, the 2nd-overall selection in the Collegiate Draft, has signed a two-year deal with the club through the 2024 Major League Rugby season. Italian-born but US-eligible, Villani was a standout with St. Bonaventure and …

The New England Free Jacks have secured Canadian center Ben LeSage for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. His rights were acquired in the Dispersal Draft after the after the LA Giltinis were disbanded. It’s the third MLR side for the 27-year-old, having formerly starred with the Toronto Arrows. LeSage …

The Toronto Arrows have re-signed Jack McRogers for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. He joins previously announced Gene Syminton as confirmed hooker signings thus far, with Canadian international Lindsey Stevens set to follow after being selected in the Dispersal Draft. McRogers, 24, enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2022. He …

The Dallas Jackals have announced the signing of hooker Tomás Baravalle for the 2023 Major League Rugby season. He makes the move from Italy, where he has played for United Rugby Championship side Benetton Treviso for the past five seasons. Originally from Rosario, Baravalle represented Argentina at u20 level before …

World Rugby have today announced significant changes to the World Sevens Series that will come into effect for the 2023-2024 season. The most notable sees the men’s and women’s competitions becoming fully aligned in both participating teams and tournaments played. They are also set to receive equal participation fees, which …

Rugby World Cup 2023 will be the tenth men’s Rugby World Cup. Sixteen teams competed in four pools of four at the inaugural tournament in 1987. It was expanded to twenty teams competing in five pools of four for RWC 1999. It changed to four pools of five for RWC …

Old Glory DC have confirmed the return of another leading member of their forward pack. Second row Tevita Naqali will play a fourth season in the nation’s capital. The 29-year-old Fijian spent the Major League Rugby off-season playing with White Plains in the American Rugby Premiership. Naqali has been an …